University of Minnesota - Duluth​​ 
Alpine Ski and Snowboard Team​ 

Eligibility:

To be eligible to race, you have to be a full time student at the University of Minnesota Duluth. You have to have at least 12 semester credits and unless you are a freshman you must have been a full time student in the previous semester to the competition season. Also to be eligible to compete in post season racing, Regionals and National's, you must compete in AT LEAST 6 RACES. NO EXCEPTIONS!  
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Freestyle & Snowboarders:

Yes! We do also have a Snowboarder team & Freestyle Skiing team. This is your chance to get in on some college racing and competition.
 

• Snowboarders can compete in Slalom, Giant Slalom, and all appropriate freestyle events determined by the Division Event Staff with the MCSA.

• Alpine Racers who also snowboard or who hit the park from time to time are also able to compete in freestyle events!

• Freestyle skiers can generally compete in Slopestyle, Freestyle and other events as determined by the Division Event Staff with the MCSA.

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Freestyle skiers and Snowboarders must wear a helmet for all on-hill training and competitions. 

If a freestyle skier chooses to Race in Giant Slalom they must follow the Equipment Guidelines for Helmets.

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UMD Ski & Snowboard Team Bylaws:

PREAMBLE: We, the UMD Alpine Ski Team, are established to further enrich and promote the Sport of Ski Racing. We strive to develop a positive experience with camaraderie among members while promoting individualism and self-development. The makeup of our team ranges from recreational skiers to highly competitive racers.

 

Article I: Sport Club Name

1. The club’s name shall be the UMD Alpine Ski and Snowboard Race Team.

 

Article II: Purpose

1. The purpose of UMD Alpine is the inclusion of all those individuals that have general experience skiing and want to be a part of the college racing experience.

2. Inclusion of all those individuals that enjoy skiing and want to be a part of the racing experience. Exclusion is not to be tolerated, if at all possible

3. To represent all racers able, at all races. Limitations set only as directed by the Midwest Collegiate Ski Association (MCSA) or United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA).

4. To uphold the traditions of ski racing excellence.

5. To create an environment which is supportive of the club participants.

6. To perpetuate itself with the ideal of improvement from one season to the next.

7. To generate a highly competitive atmosphere that will produce highly qualified racers to   represent the Midwest conference at a national level and perform with a level of excellence that correctly demonstrates the quality of the race program upheld by MCSA.

8. To keep competition fun and exciting with the purpose of encouraging its athletes to stay involved in the sport and athletics in general.

9. All members will strive to represent the best interests of the team and school.

 

Article III: Membership

1. Active Members are defined as those qualifying for the divisional race and/or members who have exemplified outstanding dedication to the team and its members.

2. To be eligible to race one must:

   1. Be a full time student at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

   2. Have signed the team waiver and MCSA waiver.

   3. Must meet the definition of amateur racer status (cannot be paid to race).

   4. Cannot be individually sponsored.

3. You must have been a full time student in the previous semester to the competition season.

   1. You have to have at least 12 semester credits unless you are a freshman.

   2. Special dispensation maybe granted for Medical Complications or Military Service.

4. You must have several years of general ski/snowboard experience (variances maybe determined by a consensus of Team Officers/Captains & Coaches).

5. According to MCSA and USCSA rules, to be eligible to compete in postseason racing, Divisional and Regional Championships, the racer must compete in at least 2 full races, prior to Divisional Championships. No exceptions can be made to this rule.

6. To compete at Regional Championships, a skier must have also participated at Divisional Championship. 

7. All racers will be welcome at both Divisional and Regional Championships (they may be included as a Guest Racer).

8. All members are required to pay Team Dues which are to be determined by the Officers before the Information Team Meeting (End of September).

   1. These dues are to be used to pay for equipment, registration fees, and other team costs.

   2. If there is no movement on Team Dues by the End of September, they will remain the same as the previous year.

   3. Volunteers/Coaches are exempt from Team Dues.

      1. Volunteers/Coaches may be asked to cover other expenses at discretion of the officers.

      2. The president is exempt from team dues but no other team expenses.

9. Team members must be registered with proper governing bodies (Do Sports Easy, USCSA, MCSA)

10.  All Team members are responsible for purchasing their own equipment and season pass.

11. All team members are responsible for damages created by that team member in hotels, AirBNBs, etc. 

12. All team members will be required to sign a contract before being approved as a member of the team. 

13.  A student membership may be revoked if:

    1. If a member is found to be not representing or qualify in the contexts of Article III section 1-7, they can be removed from the official roster, but only after all attempts to rectify the situation have been exhausted.

    2. Students may also be removed from the Team Rosters if they are found in repeated violations of RSOP or Student Policies.

    3. Continue to conduct themselves in terms that tarnish or put in jeopardy the status of the UMD Alpine Team under RSOP and USCSA Codes of Conduct.

       1. Team Officers/Captains & Coaches must attempt at minimum 3 interventions with the Student Athlete before removal unless Offense is great enough to warrant a Team Officer & Captain vote to suspend the Students Participation.

       2. If a vote is required, ¾ approvals of Team Officers AND Captains are needed to suspend an athlete.

    4. If a team member is found discriminating against or sexually harassing another team member or student, the Officers will hold a one time meeting with that student to decide if they will be removed from the team. If needed, coaches or sport clubs will be involved. 

    5. Coaches are required to inform Officers and Captains of any notice of ineligibility.

    6. Captains and Officers are required to inform Coaches of any notice of ineligibility.

14. Coaches and/or Captains will generate a start list for each race. If no coaches exist, this will be generated by the captains/officers.

15. No Student shall be discriminated against nor imposed limitations against competing unless they do not meet the criteria listed above or additional limitations set only as directed by the MCSA or USCSA our discipline governing bodies.

16. All members of the team must be registered in Do Sports Easy at UMD.

 

Article IV: Coach/Instructor

1. Qualifications of Head Coach

   1. Must have numerous years of experience racing and Assistant Coaching.

   2. Must have or be able to obtain USSA Certification as a Race Official

   3. Preferably, but not limited to, a UMD Alpine Ski Team Alumni

   4. Must meet approval of a majority of the Officers

   5. Must follow the approval requirements of UMD RSOP.

2. Will be invited to coach by the officers of UMD Alpine if they meet the criteria of Article X Section 1.

3. Duties and assignments as directed in a Job Description published by the officers.

   1. Coaches will approve of all leadership positions.

   2. Coaches will derive race lists/start orders and on hill duties for races.

   3. Coaches will have the power to assist Team Officers in establishing/revoking of racer eligibility

4. Term length is as long as they are qualified and able.

 

Article V: Officers

1. The officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and a Fundraising/social Media Coordinator.

2. Election of officers shall take place in April, 2 weeks prior to the Team Banquet of the spring semester. Voting procedures are detailed in Article VI Section 1-4.

3. Any officer position can be combined with another as needed and duties will be redistributed by the President.

4. The duties and responsibilities of the officers are as follows:

   1. The President shall be the chief officer and official spokesperson of UMD Alpine Ski Team. He/She shall be responsible for attending all- sport club meetings, communicating with the sport club coordinator, conducting meetings of the organization, delegate responsibilities as necessary, reserving practice space, and overseeing the duties of other officers. Must have held a prior leadership position, preferably as an officer. Term length is one year.

   2. The Vice-President shall report to the President and be responsible for assisting in the duties of the President. May take over any assigned or assumed duties of the President if the President is unable to perform their duties. Cannot be in their final year of eligibility. Coordinates all fundraising events with other officers and captains, and arrange team lodging. Term length is one year.

   3. The Treasurer shall report to the President and Vice President and be responsible for keeping record of the club’s finances, purchases, registration fees, lodging payments, and assisting in the duties of the President. Term length is one year.

   4. The Secretary shall report to the President and be responsible for public relations, booking hotels as well assisting fundraising and social media coordinator with organizing team events, social events and activities, fundraisers and maintain alumni relations, initiating advertising and business relations with coaches developing press releases and media contacts. Appointed advisory council member.

   5. The Fundraising/Social Media Coordinator shall report to the president and be responsible social media, website, organizing and publicizing team events, social events and activities, fundraisers and maintain alumni relations, initiating advertising and business relations with coaches developing press releases and media contacts

Article VI: Captains

1. There shall be a minimum of four captains (two women and two men). More can be appointed as necessary including snowboard captains.

2. Election of captains shall take place in April, 2 weeks prior to the Team Banquet of the spring semester. Voting procedures are detailed in Article VI Section 1-4.

3. The duties and responsibilities of the captains are as follows.

   1. Design team clothing, coordinate with treasurer to purchase clothing, and collect all payment prior to November 1st.

   2. Help coaches lead practices and take attendance.

   3. Ensure all on-hill job duties are filled and rotated on race days.

   4. At least one Captain must be present at all practices, on and off the hill.

 

Article VI: Elections

1. Will take place as stated in Article V Section 2.

2. Voting will be set up by a Coach to ensure impartiality.

3. Voting for officers and captains shall be by secret ballot. Candidates for all positions shall be self-nominated or nominated by majority vote of the club.

4. Voting shall be done sequentially, beginning with the position of President, so that a member, having not been elected to the position of President may run for Vice-President, and so on, for other positions as well.

 

Article VII: Finances/Funding

1. Finances may be raised through dues, contributions, fundraisers, and student activity fee allocation.

2. Finances are the domain of the Treasurer and Board of Officers.

   1. The Treasurer or any other officers have the ability to place a hold on a team member’s student account if they have an outstanding balance with the team.

3. Budget will be determined by the Treasurer for the following season before the end of April of the current year.

   1. This budget shall aim for a minimum carryover of $1000 for the upcoming season.

4. Refunds for the current season will not be given after the start of the competition season. 

5. Team members are responsible but not limited to the following:

   1. Team dues

   2. USCSA online registration

   3. Season pass/lift tickets

   4. Transportation to races and practices

   5. Lodging

   6.  Meals

   7. Personal equipment

   8. Team Apparel

   9. Other miscellaneous expenses

 

Article VIII: Meetings/Committees

1. Purpose of meetings:

   1. Committees may be formed by the President or Vice President as deemed necessary, with duties and responsibilities of the committees determined at that time.

   2. President or Vice President plus the Head Coach will attend the Annual MCSA Mandatory Conference call once per year. Normally held in November.

   3. President and Vice President will determine leadership responsibilities to attend RSOP Meetings as necessary.

   4. Officers are able to create Mandatory Team meetings and compel membership attendance for the purposes of important information including but not limited to:

      1. Rule Changes

      2. Eligibility

      3. Team Safety

      4. Conduct

   5. Failure to attend without notification could include, but not limited, to removal of a student by the Coaches or Officers from an event(s) Run Order(s).

 

Article VIII: Community & Service

1. Can be promoted and encouraged by the Officers of UMD Alpine Ski Team and should promote active, healthy engagement in Winter, but not limited to, activities or to promote general education around the Sport of Skiing.

 

Article IX: Affiliations

1. UMD Alpine is affiliated and complies to all rules and regulations of:

   1. The national rules and regulations organization of United States Ski Association

      1.  USSA Website – www.ussa.org

   2. The national governing body of The United States Collegiate Ski Association.

      1. USCSA Website – www.uscsa.com

   3. The Regional governing body of the Midwestern Collegiate Ski Association.

      1. MCSA Website – www.Skimcsa.com

 

Article XI: Amendments/Ratifications

1. This Constitution will be ratified by a simple majority vote of the current Officers for the 2017/2018 School Year.

   1. Officers & Coaches may make amendments to this constitution for clarification until the end of the inaugural season.

2. Any member or Coach can suggest an amendment.

3. Any future amendments to the Bylaws, Mission Statement, or this Constitution, must be first approved by the officers and then submitted twice to full membership for approval. Approval of any changes requires a 75% majority of active members.

4. An active member is described in Article III Section 1.

 

Appendices

Appendix 1: Club Coaches Contract, signed and attached September 30th, 2015

Appendix 2: UMD Alpine Student Waiver

Appendix 3: Sponsors

Appendix 4: Example Operating Budget

 

By-laws

1. If a member is found to be not representing these interests, they can be removed from the official roster, but only after all attempts to rectify the situation have been exhausted.

2. All changes to Bylaws and Mission statements must be first approved by the officers and then submitted twice to full membership for approval. Approval of bylaw changes requires a 75% majority of active members.

3. Active members are defined as those qualifying for the divisional race and/or members who have exemplified outstanding dedication to the team and its members.

 

Last Revised August 2020